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CNN Live At Daybreak

America Recovers: Recovery Continues in New York One Month Later

Aired October 11, 2001 - 08:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: It was at about 8:45 Eastern Time a month ago on a clear day, the skies seemed to cave in and so did the nation's innocence. We continue to look at the picture of what is now being called "the pile."

Our Martin Savidge is near the site where the Twin Towers once stood -- once a symbol of American strength, but now just rubble -- Martin.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.

As you can see perhaps in the background here, one month after the attack on the World Trade Center building the entire area of ground zero is almost completely obscured by smoke from the fires that continue to burn some 30 days after that initial attack.

It is hard for many people to believe that it has, in fact, been a month. Many of those that are working down at the recovery site say that it seems more like one long, horrendous day.

The recovery effort is ongoing today. They have recovered, so far, 438 bodies of people now obviously confirmed dead, but that is less than 10 percent of the over 4,800 people that are still listed as officially missing.

Over 200,000 tons of debris -- that's a figure very hard to fathom. This one is not: It is less than 10 percent of all of the debris that still remains. The mayor of New York says this project will take one year.

In a little less than 25 minutes from now, there is going to be a memorial service that is held down there at ground zero. New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, clergy, as well as heads of the fire department and the police department and city officials will be on hand for that. And then, at exactly 8:48, they will pause for a moment of silence commemorating when exactly the first plane struck into that first tower that brought on the tremendous tragedy.

They'll remember not only those who have died here, but those that died at the Pentagon and also those who died in the plane crash that went down into Pennsylvania.

There are going to be a number of commemorations taking place across the nation today -- everything from the very large, as far as a memorial concert, to the very small, being candlelight vigils held in communities, and also prayer services held in houses of worship. Everyone is probably going to stop at some time today and remember exactly where they were, what they were doing when the news of this attack came down.

It is going to be a very somber, very difficult, very painful and poignant day for many, many Americans, not just here in the city of New York.

One other thing to point out to you, Paula: After the memorial service, New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be taking the prince from Saudi Arabia on a visit to ground zero -- Saudi Arabia obviously a very vital part of the coalition against terrorism. What better way to strike the importance of that role than to come down here to ground zero to be reminded exactly what happened one month ago? Not only for princes, but for all people, to remember the lives that were lost and how life itself, that we took so much for granted, has changed -- Paula.

ZAHN: Martin Savidge, thanks so much.

A quick programming note for you now: At the bottom of the hour, we will bring you live coverage of that memorial service. There will be a moment of silence starting at 8:48 Eastern Time. That is the exact time the attacks began one month ago.

We will also bring you live coverage of today's memorial service at the Pentagon. That begins at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The president of the United States will be speaking, as well as Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

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